Kangaroo Island’s Road to Recovery

22 Jul 2020

Like much of Australia, beautiful Kangaroo Island was devastated by the 2019-20 Australian bushfire season.

There were two deaths; many homes, businesses and farms were lost; and countless wildlife and livestock perished. 

However, out of the ashes, you can now witness the amazing regeneration and regrowth of the flora and fauna that is bringing a whole new sense of beauty and life to the island.

Tree trunks and roots shoot with buds. Ash beds, now full of nutrients, have greatly enhanced the proliferation of seedling germination. And with the once dense scrub now gone, you can see – for the first time – hills and terrain that have been hidden for years and now show an incredible heat produced mosaic pattern on the landscape.

To aid the recovery of Kangaroo Island in the aftermath of the bushfires, Kangaroo Island Odysseys has launched a new one-night / one-day Kangaroo Island Road to Recovery Tour.

The tour operates daily at a rate of $599 per person twin share, and is available for travel from August 5 to August 31, including a free breakfast.

Designed in consultation with local tour guides, the Road to Recovery Tour visits the bushfire-affected areas at the western end of Kangaroo Island, including Bunker Hill, Remarkable Rocks, Cape du Couedic and Admirals Arch, all in Flinders Chase National Park, which reopened recently only to Certified Tour Operators.

It also visits the fire-damaged areas of Vivonne Bay Beach and Point Ellen at Vivonne Bay, and the North Coast of Kangaroo Island.

Meanwhile, relatively unaffected by the fires but still part of this fantastic tour is one of Kangaroo Island’s most famous attractions, the Seal Bay Conservation Park. One of the only places in the world where you can walk among sea lions on the beach, Seal Bay is a must-try on any trip to Kangaroo Island.

The tour also includes a delicious lunch in a bushland location and an afternoon on Snellings beach. Visit beautiful Stokes Bay in the afternoon to spot kangaroos, koalas and possibly Australia’s rarest cockatoo, the Glossy Black Cockatoo. And, throughout the day, enjoy many opportunities for unique wildlife and native vegetation regeneration photography.

The tour offers a personalised small group touring experience, with guests travelling in luxury touring vehicles that will still allow for social distancing to be implemented. Each small group is accompanied by a local Kangaroo Island tour guide who is passionate about the island and who has their own personal story to tell.

Arrive on Kangaroo Island late afternoon and enjoy overnight accommodation at the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge, at scenic American River in a Superior King Bayview Room or upgrade to a Deluxe Studio Waterview.  Spend the following day touring the island before returning to Adelaide that night.

The KI Odysseys ‘Kangaroo Island Road to Recovery Tour’s’ ‘Hot Deal’ rate starts from only $599 per person, twin share from Cape Jervis including breakfast. Upgrade for an extra $25 per person to deluxe accommodation. 

The hot deal rate includes return SeaLink ferry transfers from Cape Jervis, shuttle transfers from ferry to accommodation, overnight accommodation at the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge in a Superior Bayview Room, free breakfast, Kangaroo Island Road to Recovery Tour, all entrance fees, guided tours, special permits, and a delicious lunch.

The ‘Hot Deal’ rate departing from Adelaide and including coach transfers from Adelaide is $624 per person, twin share, normally $698 per person twin share.

The Hot Deal is available for travel until 31 August 2020.

Car parking at Cape Jervis is available at the local council car parking area or book secure parking with SeaLink. 

From September 2020, the ‘Kangaroo Island Road to Recovery Tour’ will be priced from $650 per person, twin share from Cape Jervis, or with coach transfers included from Adelaide for $698 per person, twin share, but will not include breakfast. All other inclusions remain the same. 

For a full tour itinerary and further information visit the Kangaroo Island Odysseys website.

For bookings, call 13 13 01 from within Australia, email [email protected], or visit www.kangarooislandodysseys.com.au.